Chapter 20: Photoshoot

"Plagg." Adrien pondered. Not really saying his name…

"Uh…Adrien?" Plagg groaned against his Camembert, "You've said my name 20 times now without really telling me anything. What am I supposed to do with you?"

"She-I- "He buried his head under a pillow.

"There you go again…I don't get humans sometimes. How can they get so unresponsive all of a sudden? I mean…I have a lot to talk about!" Plagg cradled the piece of Camembert, "About my adoring piece of cheese!"

He ignored Plagg's comments as he proceeded to stroke his hands, glancing up at the ceiling.

"Stop doing that!" Plagg's eyes flew to Adrien stroking his arms.

Adrien finally snapped out of his trance and gave Plagg a annoyed look.

"It's not bothering you. There's no need to complain."

"Phew! I thought I was going to deal with your state forever."

Adrien wandered back to pondering in his head; his face going back to that same dreamy expression (much to Plagg's displeasure). Suddenly, something struck him and the boy bolt upright!

"Plagg! I'm going to see her tomorrow!"

"See who?" Plagg asked feigning innocence. He was going to toy with this boy's mind for a little bit.

"Marinette!"

"So?"

"I-I-Do you think she thinks I'm weird now because of how I left?"

"You mean when you spluttered over your words, tried to dry her with your scarf, called her cute and almost tripped over your own feet whilst leaving?"

Adrien's face reddened and buried his face in his hands, "Y-yeah."

"Hmmm...Mr. Smooth Guy, why did you do that anyways?" Plagg put on his interrogative voice.

"Uh-because- "His face reddened even more, "I'm allergic to rain?"

Plagg face-palmed at his owner. Really? That was the most stupid thing Adrien had ever said till this date. And bleurgh…Adrien said a lot of stupid things. He was so in denial that he couldn't even say the truth out loud even if he knew perfectly well what was going on.

"Allergic to the rain. Right! I know exactly what's up with you."

"How would you?"

"Because unlike you…" Plagg put on his savage smirk, "I am not oblivious."

"I'm not that oblivious."

Are you kidding me? That was the understatement of 10 kwami cycles.

"Prove it."

"How am I going to prove that?"

"Tell me why you were so erratic after that hug." He was making it easy for Adrien.

"I- "Adrien took a pause and his face held a blank expression. And it was still red.

"Adrien!" Plagg rushed into hiding at the sound of Nathalie's voice. Damn…this lady had perfect timing.

"You'll have a photoshoot tomorrow, so you'll be missing out from school. So, I expect you to be up early and off to the area. It's a particularly important shoot, alright?" Well…there went seeing Marinette.

"Okay, Nathalie. But what about my notes for the day."

"I'll contact one of your friends to give them to you."

"Thank you, Nathalie!" Adrien said as she rushed off.

Plagg rushed out. Their conversation wasn't over yet…

"I have to go to bed, Plagg. Photoshoot tomorrow. It's important." Adrien told him before he could say anything.

Plagg fought the urge to groan. One of these days, this boy really needed to accept facts.

Tomorrow. Same time. Same place. Plagg was caught up cackling as Adrien buried his face under a pillow…

The photoshoot was an absolute comedy fest! This is why this boy should accept facts beforehand so he wouldn't get himself in such awkward situations.

Adrien was modelling Gabriel raincoats today. How convenient. And he had a female model with him too.

The series of unfortunate events he'd been through were rather entertaining…

Event #1: When he had been asked which colour raincoat, he'd like to model in first, instead of saying the coat's colour. He had shouted Marinette coat before going beet red in the face, and the faces of everyone around him were priceless.

Event #2: His hairstylist asked Adrien what hairstyle he'd prefer for the shoot (Like it mattered. He always stuck to the same one). Instead of an appropriate answer, he had said Pigtails which lead to the poor hairstylist's apparent confusion.

Event #3: Throughout the shoot, whenever, the female model tried to touch him. He'd jump away from her hold. And by jump, he meant jump, he'd literally jump in panic in the middle of the shoot. When the photographer told him to stop doing that, he'd agree but do it anyways like he didn't even know he was going to do it. His poor oblivious owner.

Event #4: If that all wasn't bad, then this certainly was disastrous. He hissed during the shoot. He actually hissed at the female model during the shoot. Poor boy didn't even see it coming. The model had gotten furious and literally abandoned the shoot midway.

Adrien's father wasn't happy about all of this and when Nathalie asked him, he'd told her he wasn't feeling well. She actually believed him and let him rest. Couldn't blame her. Adrien was sick. Not the coughing type. But it was more of an emotional illness…

"Have something to say, Adrien?" Plagg asked his owner as he peeped his head out from the pillow to look at him.

"Hmmm…I think- "

"Oh please, don't say, I think!" Plagg shook his head, "Say whatever you're going to say without the think bit."

Adrien sighed rising up to glance at the window. Was he going to say it? He continued to stare at the stars and a smile slipped onto his face.

"I'm in love with Marinette."

Well-played, Plagg. Well-played : )